document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=477949>Question 477949</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> The problem I am having trouble with is worded as:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "from -16m + 18n -19p Subtract 17m -37n + 46p<BR>\n" );
document.write( "the solution/answer is : -1m -55n -65p<BR>\n" );
document.write( "I am not understanding how to get the answer, how do I change the positive numbers to negative?<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Thank you,<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Cindy </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #327521 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=Theo><B>Theo(13342)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=Theo><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=Theo><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=327521\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> if the problem is worded correctly, then -m - 55n - 65p is not your answer.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "you want to subtract (17m - 37n + 46p) from (-16m + 18n - 19p)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "in equation form, that reads as:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(-16m + 18n - 19p) - (17m - 37n + 46p)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "remove parentheses to get:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "-16m + 18n - 19p - 17m + 37n - 46p<BR>\n" );
document.write( "combine like terms to get:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "-33m + 55n - 65p<BR>\n" );
document.write( "if your answer is supposed to be -m - 55n - 65p then something is wrong with the expressions.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "if you had (16m - 18n - 19p) - (17m + 37n + 46p) then you would get an answer that looks like -m - 55n - 65p<BR>\n" );
document.write( "you would remove parentheses to get 16m - 18n - 19p - 17m - 37n - 46p<BR>\n" );
document.write( "you would combine like terms to get:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "-m - 55n - 65p<BR>\n" );
document.write( "based on the way you presented those expressions, there's no way you're going to get -m - 55n - 65p if you subtract one from the other.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "even if you reversed the subtraction to get:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(17m - 37n + 46p) - (-16m + 18n - 19p) you would wind up with:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "remove parentheses to get:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "17m - 37n + 46p + 16m - 18n + 19p which would then become:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "33m - 55n + 65p<BR>\n" );
document.write( "it's not possible to get -m - 55n - 65p the way the problem is originally presented.\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( " </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );